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LuckyCharms

(17,413 posts)
Fri Aug 7, 2020, 11:54 AM Aug 2020

My medical flexible spending account owes me $800.

Most of you know what these accounts are, so I won't bother explaining it.

The account administrator has a real nifty website where you can submit your medical bills online, and then they are supposed you reimburse you YOUR OWN FUCKING MONEY for these bills in a timely manner.

The plan administrator has owed me $800 of my own money for ....oh....8 weeks. My account is set up for the money to be direct deposited to my savings account.

I can sign on to their website to check the status of my payment, which I do everyday, because, well, $800 is a lot of money.

After 8 weeks, and about 10 emails and phone calls asking them why they have not yet processed my claim, they finally decided to show me some mercy and process the claim to receive MY OWN GODDAMN FUCKING MONEY, and out of the goodness of their incompetent little hearts, CUT ME A MOTHERFUCKING CHECK FOR $800 and mailed it to me about 10 days ago. It was mailed from the same state that I reside in, and I still have not received the check, BECAUSE IT IS EITHER LOST IN THE MAIL OR THE USPS IS HOLDING IT UP. Again, I should be RECEIVING A DIRECT DEPOSIT INSTEAD OF A PAPER CHECK. When I asked why I did not receive a direct deposit instead of a paper check, considering that my account was set up as direct deposit, the response after my 10th communication with them was "oops! I forgot to check a box".

The reason some of this is typed in all caps is because I am too lazy to walk down to my garage to get my sledge hammer to smash the holy dogshit out of my keyboard, CPU and monitor. Typing in all caps takes some of the stress off.

Everything, and I mean everything, is broken in Trumpland.

13 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
My medical flexible spending account owes me $800. (Original Post) LuckyCharms Aug 2020 OP
I've never had a problem with my FSP.... brooklynite Aug 2020 #1
That's nice. LuckyCharms Aug 2020 #2
Have you checked to see if they offer a debit card option... brooklynite Aug 2020 #3
I have a debit card with them that I only use for prescriptions. LuckyCharms Aug 2020 #5
You are correct, everything is broken. sarcasmo Aug 2020 #4
FSP accounts have been an administrative nightmare since the mid 90's fescuerescue Aug 2020 #6
I agree with you, and my main complaint today is that a paper check sent LuckyCharms Aug 2020 #7
I just an IRS notice dated June 22nd fescuerescue Aug 2020 #8
That's awful. I'm sorry to hear this. LuckyCharms Aug 2020 #11
I hear you. MissB Aug 2020 #9
Total F-ing scam, these things. Medical should be straight up tax free and deductible. Alex4Martinez Aug 2020 #10
Scams indeed. LuckyCharms Aug 2020 #12
Fortunately, many pharmacies can provide you a year-end accounting of eligible charges Alex4Martinez Aug 2020 #13

brooklynite

(94,333 posts)
3. Have you checked to see if they offer a debit card option...
Fri Aug 7, 2020, 11:59 AM
Aug 2020

...so you don't have to pay bills personally and then try and get reimbursed?

LuckyCharms

(17,413 posts)
5. I have a debit card with them that I only use for prescriptions.
Fri Aug 7, 2020, 12:05 PM
Aug 2020

Prescriptions go through their system immediately when you use the debit card. No problem there.

When you use the debit card to pay for a co-pay, or for co-insurance, the charge will go through, but after the fact, they still make you send in a payment receipt, as well as an EOB from your insurance company. If you decide you do not want to take the trouble to do that, they will reverse the charge on your debit card, thereby screwing the provider, thereby causing you to get billed again by the provider, thereby opening up a huge can of worms. As a result, I pay providers with a regular credit card, and then subsequently submit all the paperwork to flex after I receive the insurance EOB.

fescuerescue

(4,448 posts)
6. FSP accounts have been an administrative nightmare since the mid 90's
Fri Aug 7, 2020, 12:06 PM
Aug 2020

I don't mind blaming things on Trump, but it would have been nice if any of the last 4 Presidents fixed it too.

LuckyCharms

(17,413 posts)
7. I agree with you, and my main complaint today is that a paper check sent
Fri Aug 7, 2020, 12:11 PM
Aug 2020

through the mail cannot make it 150 miles to my house in under a week or two. That's because of the shit going on at the USPS, and that is on Trump.

fescuerescue

(4,448 posts)
8. I just an IRS notice dated June 22nd
Fri Aug 7, 2020, 12:12 PM
Aug 2020

Just arrived 2 days ago. State that I owe them $750 and its due July 18th.

So yea...something is going on with Postal delivery.

MissB

(15,803 posts)
9. I hear you.
Fri Aug 7, 2020, 12:13 PM
Aug 2020

I’d push back and ask them to cancel the check and give you a direct deposit instead. Escalate up the chain.

You’ve waited too long.

You can also express your displeasure to your company’s benefit coordinator. They may be able to get some action or they may consider a different company for next year.

Alex4Martinez

(2,192 posts)
10. Total F-ing scam, these things. Medical should be straight up tax free and deductible.
Fri Aug 7, 2020, 12:15 PM
Aug 2020

These plans are scams, unused set-asides are not returned (thinking of the section-125 or whatever it was) and we shouldn't have to be predicting what costs should be and responsible for becoming an accountant, especially when we might be most at a disadvantage, while ill.

Fuckers.

LuckyCharms

(17,413 posts)
12. Scams indeed.
Fri Aug 7, 2020, 12:26 PM
Aug 2020

I WAS an accountant/estimator, and I have to keep my own, rather complicated excel spreadsheet just to catch their mistakes.

Also, they have an online store on their website that enables you to buy "flex appropriate items" from them at inflated prices by using your flex account. That's another layer of profit for them. No thanks...if I need bandaids, I'll get them at CVS for a third of the price they charge.

Alex4Martinez

(2,192 posts)
13. Fortunately, many pharmacies can provide you a year-end accounting of eligible charges
Sat Aug 8, 2020, 01:41 AM
Aug 2020

But to have to predict costs in advance of incurring them guarantees either under estimating, and losing the tax benefit, or over predicting which allows them to keep the change.

It's theft.

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